
Book j\Sd 



ADDRESS 



OF THE 



DELEGATES 



OP THE 



iiative American National Convention, 

Assevihled at Philadelphia, July 4:, 1845, 
TO THE CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES. 

F'ei.low Citizens: . , . . j •„^^„., 

When, in the history of nations, great and incrsa- 

'ine evils arise, and invade the rights, or threaten to destroy the just 
■{ind natural privileges of a people, it becomco -nnally the duty and ine 
inter^^f^ of that people to present to the worla V.ch representations ot 
Lit grievances as shall tend to justify their eftorts to remove those 
evils and establish permanent means to prevent their recurrence. It 
has beoi the fate of all nations, and especially of Republics, to suffer 
m various ways from the encroachments and assumptions of a foreign 
people- and it is an unerring truth of history, that most of them have 
lost their liberty and power by such means. The peculiar institutions 
of the United States have exposed them more than any other, to the 
evils and wrongs of foreign encroachments; and experience has already 
shown that they, like most other people of historical notice, are now 
realizing like consequences from like causes. Influenced by these con- 
siderations, a large portion of the native citizens of these United States 
have felt it to be their most solemn and in.verative duty to associate 
and plecge themselves one to another, for tlie purpose of awakening 
their countrymen to a sense of the evils already experienced from lor- 
pien intrusion and usurpation, and the imminent danger to which all 
they love and venerate as Native Americans is momentarily exposed 
frona foreign influence; and also to use all honorable means to diminish 
those evils, and oppose barriers to their futare progress. 1 hey have 
therefore called together in Convention, in the city of Philadelphia, 
the representatives of those Native Americans, who, clearly seeing and 
feeling the evils and dangers complained of, have the inorai courage 
to oppose and redress them; and now, in conformity with usage and 
duty, these representatives announce to their associates and their teilow 



''v'-fS 



fc- 



ADDRESS. 



citizens, the great objects contemplated by the Native American arty 
their reasons for action, and the principles by w,hich they pioiX)sg het ' 
after to be governed. 

DECLARATION. ) 

Wc, the Delegates elect to the First National Convention of tie 
Native American body of the United Stales of America, afjsembledat 
Philadelphia, on the 4th of July, 1845, for the purpose of devising a 
plan of concerted political action in defence of American intHltuticna 
against the encroachments of foreign influence, open or con cealod, 
hereby solemnly, and before Almighty God, make known to o\n fel- 
low citizens, our country, and the world, the following incontrover.uble 
facts, and the course of conduct consequent thereon, to which, in duv^' 
to the cause of human rights and the claims of our beloved country 
we mutually pledge our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor. 

The danger of foreign influence, threatening the gradual destructic 
of our national institutions, failed not to arrest the attention of the Ft 
ther of his Country, in the very dawn of American Liberty. Not onl 
its direct agency in rendering the American system liable to the poiso- 
nous influence of European policy — a policy at war with the funds- 
niental principles of the American Constitution — but also its sti" 
more fatal operation in aggravating the virulence of partizan warfare- 
has awakened deep alfrm in the mind of every intelligent patriot, fror 
the days of Washington to the present time. 

The influx of a foreign population, permitted after little more than e 
nominal residence, to participate in the legislation of the country and 
the sacred right of suffrage, produced comparatively little evil during 
the earlier years of the Republic, for that influx was then limited ]<y 
the coasiderable expenses of a transatlantic voyage, by the existence 
of many wholesome restraints upon the acquisition of political preroga- 
tives, by the constant exhaustion of the European population in long 
and bloody continental wars, and by the slender inducements offered 
for emigration to a young and sparsely peopled country, contending for 
existence with a boundless wilderness, inhabited by savage men. — 
Evils which are only prospective, rarely attract the notice of the mas- 
ses — and until peculiar changes in the political condition of Europe, 
the incieased facilities for transportation, and the madness of partizan 
legislation in removing all effective guards against the open prostitution 
of the rights of citizenship, had converted the slender current of natu- 
lalizalion into a torrent threatening to overwhelm the influence of the 
natives of the land — the far-seeing vision of the statesman only, being 
fixed upon the distant, but steadily approaching cloud. 

But since the barriers against the improper extension of the right of 
suffrage were bodily broken down, for a partizan purpose, by the Con- 
gress of 1825, the rapidly increasing numbers, and unblushing inso- 
lence of the foreign population of the worst classes, have caused the 



ADDRESS. 3 

general agitation of the t^ggtion^ "Hoio shall the institutions of the 
fxjuntry he preserved from \j^^ mght of foreign influence, insanely le. 
galized through the conflic^.^ of domestic parties?" Associations under 
difFerent names have been 'formed by our fellow citizens, in many 
States of this confederation^ fj-oj^ Louisiana to Maine, all designed to 
check this imminent dar,ggj. before it becomes irremediable, and, at 
length, a National Conj^gntion of the great American people, born 
upon the soW of Washin^iton, has assembled .to digest and announce a 
plan of operations, by v/,|^jc[^ ^\^q grievances of an abused hospitality, 
and the consequent degradation of political morals may be redressed, 
and the tottering columnf, of the temple of Republican Liberty secured, 
upon the sure foundatioij of an enlightened nationality. 

In calling for support upon every American who loves his country 
pre-eminently, and evgiy adopted citizen of moral and intellectual 
worth, who would secure lo his compatriots yet to come amongst us, 
the blessings of political protection, the safety of person and property, 
it is right that we should make known the grievances which we pro- 
pose to redress, and the manner in which we shall endeavor to effect 
our object. 

It is an incontrovertible truth, that the civil institutions of the United 
States of America have been seriously affected, and that they now 
stand in imminent peril from the rapid and enormous increase of the 
body of cesidents of foreign birth, imbued vaih foreign feelings, and of 
an ignorant and immoral character, who receive, under the present lax 
and unreasonable laws of naturalization, the elective franchise and the 
right of eligibility to political office. 

The whole body of foreign citizens, invited to our shores under a 
■constitutional provision adopted to other times and other political con- 
ditions of the world, and of our country especially, has been endowed 
by American hospitality with gratuitous privileges unnecessary to the 
enjoyment of those inalienable rights of man — life, liberty, and the 
pursuit of happiness — privileges wisely reserved to the Natives of the 
soil, by the governments of all other civilized nations. But, fami- 
liarized by habit with the exercise of these indulgences, and emboldened 
by increasing numbers, a vast majority of those who constitute this 
foreign body, now claim as an original right, that which has been so 
incautiously granted as a favor; — thus attempting to render inevitable 
the prospective action of laws adopted upon a principle of mere expe- 
diency, made variable at the will of Congress by the express terms of 
the Constitution, and heretofore repeatedly revised to meet the exigen- 
cies of the times. 

In former years, this body was recruited chiefly from the victims of 
political oppression, or the active and intelligent mercantile adventu- 
rers of other lands; and it then constituted a slender representation of 
the best classes of the foreign population, well fitted to add strength to 
the state, and capable of being readily educated in the peculiarly Amer- 
ican science of political self-government, Mojeover, while welcoming 



4 ADDRESS. 

the stranger of every condition, laws then ^^'^^J demanded of every 
foreign aspirant for political rights « certifiif^ ^J practical good cxtv- 
zenship. Such a class c-f aliens were hV^"^^^ ^^ "^ ^^''^'S" ^^™^- 
gogues— they were courted by no domeeti^ demagogues— they were 
purchased by -n^ parties— they were deb;..'^'^^'^^ ^V "^ emissaries of 
kings. A wall of fire separated them from such a baneful influence, 
erected by their intelligence, their knowledg^' ^^^^'^ ^'^^"^ ^"^ ^^ve of 
fjeedom. But 4'or the last twenty years, the road to civil preferment 
and panicipatioE in tlie legislative and exe?"^^^® government of the 
land, has hem laid broaaly open, alike to the .'S^^^'^^t, the vicious an4 
the criminal,' and a large proportion of th© forf^'S^ ^^^V ^^ citizens and 
voters now constitutes a representation of the ■worst and most degraded 
of the European population— victims of social' ^PP'^ession or personal 
vices, utterly divested by ignorance or crime, of tN i^^oral and intellec- 
tual requisites for political self-govenjii^ciiL, 

Thus tempted by the suicidal policy of these United States, and fa- 
vored by the facilities resulting from the modern improvements of navi- 
gatjon, numerous gocieties and corporate bodies in foreign countries have 
found it economical to transport to our shores, at public and private ex- 
pense, the feeble, the imbecile, the idle and intractable, thus relieving 
thentjseives of the burden resulting from the vices of the European social 
systems, by availing themselves of the generous errors of our own. 

The alms houeoa o£ Eujcpe are emptied upon our coast, and this iy 
mLT &wn invitation — not casually, or to a trivial extent, but systemati- 
cally, and upon a constantly increasing scale. The Bedlams of the 
old world have contributed their share to the torrent of immigration, 
and the lives of ov^i citizens have been attempted in the streets of our 
capital cities by mad-men, just liberated from European hospitals, upon 
ilhe express condition that they should be transported to America. 

By the orders of European governments, the punishment of crimes 
has been commuted for banishment to the land of the free; and crimi- 
nals in iron have crossed the ocean to be cast loose upon society on 
their arrival upon our shores. The United States are rapidly becoming 
the lazar-house and penal colony of Europe; nor can we reasonably 
censare such proceedings; They are legitimate consequences of our 
own unlimited benevolence; and it is of such material that we profess 
to manufacture free and enlightened citizens, by a process occupying 
five short years at most, but practically, oftentimes embraced in a much 
shorter period of time. 

The mass of foreign voters, formerly lost among the Natives of the 
soil, has increased from the ratio of 3 in 40, to that of 1 in 7 ! a like 
advance in 15 years will leave the Native citizens a minority in their 
own land 5 Thirty years ago these strangers came by units and tens — 
now they swaim by thousands. (It is estimated that 300,000 will ar- 
rive within the present year.) Formerly, most of them sought only for 
an honest livelihood and a provision for their families, and rarely med- 
dled with the institutions, of which it was impossible they could com. 



ADDRESS. ' 5 

preliehd the nature; now each new comer seeks political preferment, 
and struggles to fasten on the public purse wifh an avidity, in strict pro- 
portion to his ignorance and unworthiness of public trust — having been 
SENT for the purpose of obtaining political ascendancy in the govern, 
ment of the nation — having been sent to exalt their allies to power — 
having been sent to work a revoluiiora from republican freedom ta the 
divine rights of monarchs. 

From these unhappy circumstances, has arisen an Imperinm in lm~ 
perio — a body uninformed and vicious — foreign in feeling, prejudice 
and manner, yet armexi with a vast and often a controlling influence 
over the policy of a nation, v;hose benevolence it abuses, and whose 
kindness it habitually insults — a body as dangerous to the rights of the 
intelligent foreigner, as to the prospect of its own immediate progeny, 
■as it is threatening to the liberties of the country, and the hopes of ra- 
tional freedom throughout the world — a body ever ready to complicate 
our foreign relations by embroiling us with the hereditary hates and 
feuds of other lands, and to disturb our domestic peace by its crude 
ideas, mistaking license for liberty, and the overthrow of individual 
rights for republican political equality — ^a body ever the ready tool of 
foreign and domestic demagogues, and steadily endeavoring by misrule 
*0 establish popular tyranny under a cloak of false democracy. Ame- 
ricans, false to their country, and led on to moral crime by the desire 
of dishonest gain, have scattered their agents over Europe, inducing the 
malcontent and the unthrifty to exchange a life of compulsory labor in 
foreign lands, for relative comfort, to be maintained by the lax-paying 
industry of our overburdened and deeply indebted community. Not 
content with the usual and less objectionable licenses of trade, these 
fraudulent dealers habitually deceive a worthier class of victims, by 
false promises of emplojanent, and assist in thronging the already 
crowded avenues of simpk labor with a host of competitors, whose first 
acquaintance with American faith springs from gross imposture, and 
whose first feeling on discovering the cheat, is reasonable mistrust, if 
not implacable revenge. The importation of the physical necessities 
of life is burdened with imposts which many deem extravagant; but the 
importation of vice and idleness — of seditious citizens and factious ru- 
lers — is not only unrestricted by any thing beyond a nominal tax, but 
is actually encouraged by a system which transforms the great patri- 
mony of the nation, purchased by the blood of our fathers, into 8 
source of bounty for the promotion of immigration. 

Whenever an attempt is made to restrain this fatal evil, the native 
and adopted demagogues protest against an effort which threatens to 
deprive them of their most important tools, and such is the existing or- 
ganization of our established political parties, that should either of them 
essay the reform of an abuse which both acknowledge to be fraught 
with ruin, that party sinks upon the instant into a minority, divested of 
control, and incapable of result. 

From such causes has been derived a body, armed with political 



/ 



6 ADDRESS. 

pery 
power, m a country of whose system it is ignorant, and of whociti..t- 
stitutions it feels little interest, except for the purpose of personal ad- 
vancement. 

This body has formed and encouraged associations under foreign 
names, to promote measures of foreign policy, and to perpetuate foreign 
clanishiiess among adopted citizens of the United States — in contra- 
vention of that spirit of union and nationality, without which no people 
can legitimately claim a place among the nations of the earth. 

It has employed the power of associations to embroil the people of 
this country in the political disputes of other lands, with which the 
United States are anxious to encourage peace and amity. 

It has introduced foreign emblems, not only of national, but of par- 
tizan character, in the civic processions and public displays of bodies 
of men, claiming the title of American citizens, and sworn to Ameri- 
can fealty, by which means it has fomented frequent riot and murder. 

It has adopted national costumes and national insignia, foreign to 
the country., in arming and equipping military corps, constituting a part 
of the national giiard, with its word of command in a foreign language, 
in open defiance of our military code, by which means it has weakened 
the discipline of the militia, and rendered it less available for defence 
in time of war. 

It has entered Into the strife of parties, as a separate organization, 
unknown to the laws, suffering itself to be addressed and led to the 
contest — not as a portion of the great American family of freemen, but 
combined as foreigners, thus virtually falsifying its oaths of allegiance, 
and proving, beyond denial, its entire unfitness for political trust. 

It has formed and encouraged political combinations, holding the 
balance of power between opposing parties, which combinations have 
offered their votes and influence to the highest bidder, in exchange for 
pledges of official position and patronage. 

It has boasted of giving Governors to oiu States, and Chief Magis- 
trates to the nation. 

By serving as an unquestioning and uncompromising tool of execu- 
tive power, it has favored a political centralism, hostile to the rights of 
the independent States and the sovereignty of the people. 

It has facilitated the assumption by the national executive, of the 
right to remove from office, without the consent of the Senate, persons 
who only can be appointed with such conseiit; which assmBption is an 
obvious evasion of the spirit of the Constitution. 

It has encouraged political combinations for the purpose of effecting 
sectarian measures, in defiance of the fundamental law of the United 
States, and the Constitution of the States in which such efforts have 
been made. 

It has given rise to the organization and arming o^ foreign banditti^ 
leagued for the purpose of controlling the freedom of discussion, andj 
opposing the constitutional assembling of American freemen, seeking 
the redress of political grievances; which lawless bands have repeaiedly 



ADDRESb. 7 

. ^ tened, assaulted and temporarily dispersed lawful political meet- 
ings of native citizens, in various places. 

Emboldened by the often tested weakness of the constituted autho- 
rities, resulting, as we solemnly believe, from the ascendancy of^ihe 
foreign influence at the polls, a host of these foreign assassins at length 
proceeded to redden the gutters of the second city of the Union with 
the blood of unarmed native citizens, without even the semblance of 
provocation, and with the avowed determination to prevent any politi- 
cal assemblage of the natives of the soil within the limits of one of 
the political divisions of a sovereign American State. 

Prostrated in this attempt by the ungovernable fury of an outraged 
community, moving in mass, to avenge such insult to the flag of their 
country, trampled and torn beneath the feet of the very refuse of Eu- 
rope — these ruffians and their abettors, have since fomented extensive 
riot and open insurrection; and uniting with their prejudiced fellow 
countrymen, together with domestic demagogues of various political 
creeds, have striven, unceasingly, to fasten upon the victims of their 
treasonable and murderous proceedings, the odium of crimes originating 
with themselves — thus exciting bloody contests between opposing bo- 
dies of native citizens, impairing, by division, the remaining political 
influence of the native population, and weakening the bonds of social 
harmony, and the obligation of the law?. Collision of opinion has 
been followed by collision of arms in deadly array, in the very sanctu- 
ary of our freedom, by the myrmidons of the crowned heads of Europe. 
If this double struggle, and aggravated danger, does not constitute a cri- 
sis of national emergency, we are yet to learn what combination of 
power, inimical to liberty, can endanger the Republic, or peril the per- 
manence of our institutions. 

The body of adopted citizens with foreign interests and prejudices, 
is annually advancing with rapid strides, in geometrical progression. 
Already it has acquired a control over our elections which cannot be 
entirely corrected, even by the wisest legislation, until the present 
generation shall be numbered with the past. Already it has noto- 
riously swayed the course of national legislation, and invaded the pu- 
rity of local justice. In a few years, its unchecked progress would 
cause it to outnumber the native defenders of our rights, and would 
then inevitably dispossess our offspring, and its own, of the inheritance 
for which our fathers hied, or plunge this land of happiness and peace 
into the horrors of civil war. 

The correction of these evils can never be effected by any combina- 
tion governed by the tactics of other existing parties. If either of the 
old parties, as such, were to attempt an extension of the term of natu- 
ralization, it would be impossible for it to carry out the measure, be- 
cause it would immediately be abandoned by the foreign voters. This 
great measure can be carried out only by an organization like our own, 
made up of those who have given up their former political preferences. 

For these reasons, we recommend the immediate organization of the 



/ 



8 ADDRESS, 

truly patriotic native citizens throughout the United States, for the pur- 
pose of resisting the progress of foreign influence in the conduct of 
American affairs, and the correction of such political abuses as have 
resulted from unguarded or partizan legislation on the subject of natu- 
ralization, so far as these abuses admit of remedy, without encroach- 
ment upon the vested rights of foreigners who have been already legal- 
ly adopted into the bosom of the nation; and in furtherance of this ob- 
ject, we present the public with the following statement of the political 
principles and objects of the Native American body, whose duly con- 
stituted representatives we are: 

PRINCIPLES. 

We hold that, with few exceptions, no man educated under one sys- 
tem of government, can ever become thoroughly imbued with the es- 
sence and spirit of another system essentially different in character. 

That no man can eradicate entirely the prejudices and attachments 
associated with the land of his birth, so as to become a perfectly safe 
depository for political trust in any other country. 

That the obligation of an oath of fealty to a foreign nation, has been 
decided by every civilized nation but our own, to be of secondary power 
when brought info collision with the natural fealty due to the native 
land. And although we have as yet no absolute decisio-n of this ques- 
tion in our Supreme Court, all precedents bearing upon the subject, 
lead us to anticipate a similar conclusion there. 

And therefore, that the elective franchise, which is the primary and. 
fundamental element of popular sovereignty, can only be entirely se- 
cure, when held exclusively in the hands of natives of the soil. 

But, in consideration of tlie present and previous policy of our gov- 
ernment, we are willing, at present, to extend as a boon, to all peace- 
ful and well disposed strangers hereafter settling among us, not only 
every security enjoyed by the native in the protection of person, prop- 
erty, and the legal pursuit of happiness, but also the right of sufTrage, 

UPON THE SAME TEEMS AS THOSE IMPOSED UPON THE NwVTIVES, namely, 

a legally authenticated residence of at least twenty-one years within the 
limits of the country. 

We advocate such an amendment to the Constitution of the United 
States as may be necessary to preclude the votes of persons not legally 
citizens of the United States, in the choice of national Representatives 
or Delegates from the several States and Territories, 

We stand pledged, in the exercise of our constitutional right of se- 
lecting those candidates for ofTtce whom we esteem most capable and 
best informed, to confine our political nominations to the American 
born citizens of the United States, including such foreign born citizens 
only, as may have been parties to the Federal Constitution at the time 
'Of its adoption. 

We solemnly protest against all intermingling of national policy 



ADDRESS. 9 

with the local policy of particular States on questions involving the re- 
served rights of those States. 

We hold that all minor questions of expediency -in legislating upon 
subjects unconnected with the fundamental structure of the government, 
such as fiscal and commercial regulations, the management of the pub- 
lic domain, and the proceeds therefrom, etc., belong by right to the re- 
presentatives of the people, and those of the several States, to be by 
them discussed and decided, from time to time, after mature argument, 
under the constitutional responsibility of those public agents — each to 
his own proper constituency and to the country; and that the adoption 
of any previous test or determination upon such questions, by any na- 
tional party, degrades it into a faction, and by leading to final decision, 
before argument, obstructs the course of rational legislation. 

If it is asked what measures of public import we most favor as a 
party, we answer, all that stand high as American measures, in contra- 
distinction to foreign. Native agriculture we cherish first — Native in- 
dustry first and last in every branch of trade, art, ingenuity, mechanics, 
and invention. We aim at the independence of our country in all 
things — moral, intellectual, physical and political — in works of the 
hand, as well as in works of the head; in manual labor and in mental 
sagacity. We desire to make our government what our fathers de- 
signed it should be — and witness Native statesmen in power — Native 
industry triumphant over foreign labor — and Native hearts announcing 
America emancipated from all the world. 

We advocate such an amendment of the Constitution of the United 
States as shall reconcile its letter with its spirit, on the subject of ex- 
ecutive appointments, rendering all oflicers commissioned by and with 
the consent of the Senate, incapable of removal, except by and with 
the like consent. 

We recommend to the Native Americans of the several States, a 
prompt resistance to all sectarian intermeddling with politics, or politi- 
cal institutions, come from what source soever it may; the absolute 
freedom of religious opinion being the corner stone of American civili- 
zation. 

We also recommend to the Native Americans of the several States, the 
careful fostering and improvement of local institutions for public instruc- 
tion, to be supported at the public expense, without which, a govern, 
ment of the people must speedily become a government of ignorance 
and probable depravity. 

We also recommend to the Native Americans of the several States, 
in their systems of education, a full recognition of the Bible as divine 
authority for the rights of man, as v\ ell as for the separation of Church 
and State, on which depends so es*antially the pursuit of happiness and 
freedom of conscience. To the Bible we are indebted for the wand 
that broke the sceptre of tyrants, and crumbled to atoms the Church 
and State despotisms of those potentate.s who associate religion with 
their political systems — who degrade the people in order to rule them, 

2 



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10 ADDRESS. 

and interdict education and knowledge among the masse?, lest intelli- 
gence should inform them of their rights, instruct them how to break 
asunder their bonds, and rise to the true dignity of God-created freedom. 

When the ambition of kings projected the slavery of the people, 
they locked up the Bible, and invested themselves with the attribute* 
of Divinity. A divine right to enslave was admitted, when the human 
right was denied. Hence, in all arbitrary governments, the State is in- 
corporated with the Church, under the monstrous paradox that man, in 
the possession of his natural rights, is incompetent to self-government. 
The reading of the Bible among the people, exploded this doctrine, and 
the Native Americans defend it, and will continue to defend it, against 
all foreign aggression, as necessary to freedom of conscience, and the 
equal rights of man. 

Having thus completed an outline of the principles and policy advo- 
cated by the Native American Politieal Party, as a National Party, w« 
call upon every true friend of his country, to rally under our standard 
before it becomes too late — we invite the assistance of every adopted 
citizen of sufficient intelligence to perceive his own real interest, and 
that of hjs posterity. Warring with no particular sect, attacking no 
particular n^ition — regardless of the spleen of pre-existing parties— we 
are gathering to the combat in opposition to that foreign influence, and 
those abuses of party spirit which were so ably foretold by Washing- 
ton and Jefferson. Invoking Heaven in testimony of the purity of our 
motives, we have solemnly determined never to relax our efforts, until 
the star spangled banner floats freely over the re-nationalized land of 
our birth and our affections. 

RESOLUTIONS, 

ADOPTED, JULY 5th AND 7th, A. D. 1845. 

Believing our free institutions, if worth any thing to be ivorth pre- 
serving, and transmitting unimpaired. 

Believing the permanency of those institutions to depend upon tlte 
honest and intelligent exercise of the right of suffrage. 

Believing that ruin, if it come, will come through a perversion and 
abuse of that right. 

Believing such perversion and abuse to have already prevailed, and 
to be now increasing to an alarming extent. 

Believing that the greatest source of evil in this respect is to be 
found in tlie rapid influx of ignorant foreigners, and the facility with 
which they are converted into citizens. 

Believing that Americans in /or??i, should and of right ought to be 
Americans at heart. 

Believing that under any circumstances, it is dangerous to commit 
the Ballot Box, the Ark of our Freedom's Covenant, to foreign hands, 
or submit our destinies to the possible control of them, who may be 
foreigners in heart, and Americans in form only. 



ADDRESS. 11 

Believing that from any of the old political organizations, as such, 
we cannot hope for any radical reform of the evils we deprecate. 

Therefore,!. Resolved, That we do hereby form ourselves into a 
nationpl political party, for the radical reform of abuses, and the preser- 
vation of our institutions and our liberties, under the name of the Na- 
tive American Party. 

2. Resolved, That as Native Americans, we cannot consent to give 
our political suffrages to any other than to those born on our soil and 
matured among our institutions. 

3. Resolved, That no foreigner hereafter coming to these United 
States, shall be allowed to exercise the elective franchise, until he shall 
have been a resident here at least twenty-one years. 

4. Resolved, That the Bible, as the only basis of pure Christianity, 
lies at the bottom of all true liberty and equality, and thus, as the cor- 
ner stone of our free institutions, should be freely read by all men. 

5. Resolved, That removals from important offices under the gene- 
ral government, should be made like appointments, by and with the 
advice and consent of the Senate, or other approving body, except in 
the absence of the Senate, when the President may have the power to 
suspend ybr cause. 

6. Resolved, That these principles, lying as they do, at the very 
foundation of our political freedom, and our national existence, in- 
volve, and are paramount to all others, however important to our ex- 
ternal prosperity. 

7. Resolved, That the interest, the honor of the nation, as well as 
the real welfare of all parties, require that subordinate party questions 
should be made to yield to the great principles for which we are con- 
tending. 

8. Resolved, That organizations of Native American Associations, 
should be established in all the townships, and wards of cities through- 
out the United States. 

9. Resolved, That the appointment of two Delegates from each 
Congressional District, be recommended to meet in General Conven- 
tion, on the 2d Tuesday of May, 1847, to nominate candidates for Pre- 
sident and Vice Presideut of the United States, and that tlie place of 
meeting be Pittsburgh, Pa. 

10. Resolved, That we advocate the principle that no alien should 
be naturalized, except on the production of a Custom House certificate, 
to be procured on his landing on these American shores, proving his 
residence of twenty-one years; such certificate to be given up to be 
cancelled. 

11. Resolved, That we hold it to be the duty of all true Native 
Americans, to give their suffrages to those only, who subscribe heartily 
to our principles, and will maintain them. 

12. Resolved, That as Native Americans, we hold it to be our duty 
to take high moral ground on all subjects, to grapple with the princi- 



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12 ADDRESS. 

pies of right, of truth, and of justice, without regard to mere questions 
of availability, and to contend for them fearlessly against the world. 

13. Resolved, That the several Executive Committees of the States, 
be requested to appoint, each, two proper persons, to constitute a Cor- 
responding National Committee. 

14. Resolved, That while every constitutional effort should be made 
to guard against the deleterious consequences of a rapidly increasing 
immigration, by the enactment of the most efficient laws for the ac- 
complishment of that all important object, still a generous magnanimity 
requires that those aliens who are, or may become inhabitants of the 
United States, should be kindly received, and every privilege extended 
to them, except that of participating in any of our political administra- 
tions, and exercising the right of suffrage, until after a residence of at 
least twenty-one years. 

15. Resolved, That as Native Americans, we will foster and defend 
all the great ii/teresls of our country, its agriculture, its commerce, its 
mechanics, manufactures, navigation, mining, and science, fine arts, 
and literature, against the world. 

16. Resolved, That we do advocate the passage of laws, imposing 
upon all foreigners coming hither for purposes of permanent residence, 
a capitation tax, sufficiently large to prevent the excessive influx of vi- 
cious and pauper immigrants, and that, we do this as a matter of self- 
defence. 

17. Resolved, That we urge the promotion and fostering of all means 
of moral and intellectual culture, by permanent provisions for general 
education, believing the intelligence of the people to be necessary to 
the right use and the permanence of our liberties, civil and religious. 

18. Resolved, That the Native American party do, and will continue 
to advocate the principle, that the naturalization of foreigners be con- 
fined exclusively to the Courts of the United States, and al^ that a 
public registration of all applicants for the elective franchise be made, 

19. Resolved, That we advocate the universal toleration of every 
religious faith and sect, and the total separation of all sectarianism 
and politics. 

20. Resolved, That we recommend that no alien be permitted to 
land in these United States, without a certificate of good moral charac- 
ter, and who is able to provide for his own support, which certificate 
shall be signed by the United States Consul of the port, from whence 
he sailed, and also that a registry be made of said alien, in conformity 
witli the Act of Congress, passed in 1802, under President Jefferson. 

President—}!. A. S. DEARBORNE, Massachusetts. 
Vice Presidents — L. D. Chapin, New York, 

Chas. Sexton, New Jersey, 

Thos. D. Grover, Pennsylvania, 

W. N. Haldeman, Kentucky, 

Joseph K. Buhtis, Missouri, 
Secretaries — Wm. L. Pkali>, N. Y.; E. R. .Campbell, Ohio; 
John F. Dbiggs, New York; Geo. G. West, Pennsylvania. 



DELEGATES. 



L. C. Levin, 
Thos. D. Grover, 
Jos. B. Strafford, 
Peter Sken Smith, 
L. M. Trontman, 
Richard W. Green, 
George W. Reed, 
Amos Phillips, ' 
Samuel B. Lewis, 
Samuel H. Norton, 
John A. Arnold, 
P. B. Carter, 
C. J. Sneeder, 
David Bricker, 
M. W. May, 



NAMES OF DELEGATES. 



Minard Lefevre, 
Thos. Winship, 
Jacob Townsend, 
Benj. C. Dutcher, 
Daniel G. Taylor, 
Lewis Blanche, 
Thos. H. Oakley, 
Charles Devoe, 
Wm. Steele, 
E. C. Blake, 
Wm. Leaycraft, 
John Young, 
Jacob Lansing, 
Rawson Harmon, 
Chas. Knight, 



Jeremiah E. Eldridge, Franklin Ferguson, 



George Mari . 
Leander N. Otc, 
Wm, Duncan, 
Geo. Everson, 

E. Jackson, 
Edward Griffins, 
Jacob Weaver, 
Thomas Ford, 
O. C. Lombard, 
Jesse Mann, 

F. C. Messenger, 
Geo. Emerson, 

H. A. S. Dearborns, 
L.B. Bodge, 
J. B. Robinson, 
C. J. Fountain, 
Samuel Gage, 
Thos. R. Whitney, 
Fred. H. Way, 
Joseph Hufty, 
S. G. Steele, 
LoringD. Chapin, 
Wm. Kirpt, 
John Mount, 
George Youngs, 
James Covel, Sr. 
Robert H. Golder, 
W. W, Wetmore, 
Pardon Lapham, 
Wm. Bennett, 
Charles Perley, 



Dr. J. Symmes, 
Jesse Ford, 
John Johnson, 
Edwin R. Campbell, 
Jos. K. Buitis, 
H. H. Tucker, * 
G, W. fiartshorne, 
John Locke, 
George G. West, 
John Allen, 
Thomas Wattson. 
John W. Ashmead, 
E. W. Keyser, 
Wm. D. Baker, 
Oliver P. Cornman, 
Wm. M. Evans, 
Elijah K. Wilds, 
John F. Vanlear, 
Jacob Teese, 
Geo. Ford, 
Kirkpatrick Evving, 
E. C. Reigart, 
Alex. M. Kenney, 
Geo. W. Twining, 
Daniel Kendig, 
Archibald Reeves, 
Benj. R. Snyder, 
Jos. Allison, 
James Sturgis, 
Samuel B. Lewis, 
A. B. Ely, 



J. F. Whitney, 
J. Q. Kettelle, 
J. W. Munroe, 
L. H. Braley, 
A. D. Stiles, 
Chas. Ruggles, 
J. L. Moore, 
Lora Nash, 
John A. King, 
Aaron Q. Thompson, 
John Lloyd, 
Chas. M. Brown, 
Geo. F. Penrose, 
Stephen Reed, 
Charles D. Brown, 
Wm. McCormick, 
John F. Driggs, 
Edward Green, 
Wm. Forbes, 
W. L. Prall, 
James Griffiths, 
Thos. Hogan, 
Peter Squiers, 
Dr. D. C. Freeman, 
W. C. Dusenberry, 
Chas. Alden, 
Isaac S. Smith, 
Wm. R. Wagstaff, 
Edward Harte, 
Philip Jordan, 
Wm. Taylor, 
Richard L. WyckofF, 
Wyllis Ames, 
James McDonald, 
John Skillman, Jr. 
Morgan Everson, 
Robert C. Russell, 
Evan Smith, 
Nathaniel Holmes, Jr. 
Charles Sexton, 
Albert Thatcher, 
Thos. McCorkel, 
W. N. Haldeman, 
James G, Caldwell, 
Hector Orr, 
W. H. Farrar, 
J, Shepherd. 



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f ME IKGliailKSt (G(D)IDME1 

AND 

A large double-medium daily newspaper, containing all the latest political* 
literary and commercial news of the day, is issued at sun-rise every morning 
(^Sundays excepted) and delivered to subscribers in the city and mailed to those 
in the country, at the rate of $6.00 a year. 

The Tri-Weekly Courier, containing all the matter of the Daily, is issued 
every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings, at the low price of $4.00 a 
year. 

The American Democrat and Weekly Courier is issued every Saturday 
morning at the extreme low rate i>f $2.00 a year. It is printed on a mammoth 
sheet, is as large as the largeest paper in the United Stales of the same price, 
and is well filled, besides its political articles, with original and selected tales, 
essays, poems, agricultural articles, interesting incidents, news, history, biogra- 
phy, and every thing of interest to the general reader, and which will make it 
an agreeable companion for the fire-side and acceptable to the social circle. It 
is also exceedingly valuable as a commercial paper, as it contains full, com- 
plete and reliable reports of our own and all other important markets in the 
Union. 

All mail remittances are at the risk and expense of the proprietor. Com- 
munications may be addressed to 

W. N. HALDEMAN, 

Louisville, Ky. 



PREAMBLE & RESOLUTION o. 16 



[CTAt an immense and enthusiastic assemblage of tlie citizens of Louisville, 
at the Court House, on the night of the 6th August, 1845, for the purpose of 
organizing a Native American Party, L. L. Shreve, Esq., was called to the 
Chair, Samuel Frazer and Col. R. K. White were appointed Vice Presidents, 
and G. J. Johnston and James H. Bagbv, Secretaries. 

An appropriate prayer having been offered by the Rev. Mr. Craik, the Ad- 
dress of the National Native American Convention, held at Philadelphia, 4th 
July last, was then read by W. N. Haldeman. An eloquent Address was then 
delivered by S. F. J. Trabue, Esq. 

Mr. E. Bryant moved the following Preamble and Resolutions, which hav- 
ing been read by the Secretary, were unanimously adopted: 

WHEREAS, the evils to our country resulting from the rapidly increasing 
immigration from foreign countries, and from our present system of Naturali 
ration, both from its inherent defects, and the gross frauds upon the elective 
franchise practised under it, are obvious to, and acknowledged by the virtuous, 
intelligent, and patriotic of all parties, and have produced the most anxious 
forebodings and apprehensions for the fate of our Republican institutions: And, 
WHEREAS, we have reason to believe, that neither of the two great political 
parties as at present organized and marshalled under their respective leaders, 
intend to make an effort to remedy tliese evils; but, on the contrary, both of 
them, with a view to secure the foreign influence existing in the country, and 
which by daily accessions, is constantly accumulating, and now holds the bal- 
ance of power between these parties, and virtually governs and dictates the 
policy of the government; and in an especial manner is opposed to the reform 
of the Naturalization system, which we regard as vitally essential to the pre- 
servation of our republican institutions, our nationality, and our political and 
social morality: And, WHEREAS, in view of these facts, we regard it as the 
imperative duty of every true-hearted American to take a firm, bold, and un- 
yielding stand on the side of his country, against every party or combination 
of parties, which bending to a foreign influence seated and consolidated in oar 
midst, for the sake of the acquisition of political power, submits to its dictation, 
and sacrifices to it the best and dearest interests of American citizens: And, 
believing this, under existing circumstances, the only effective mode of accom- 
plishing the great conservative objects we have in view — 

1. Therefore Resolved, That we do now hold ourselves freed from all con- 
nection with, and absolved from all obligations to either of the old political 
parties; and from this time forward, we assume the distinctive name, NATIVE 
AMERICAN; a name at once honorable, appropriate, and expressive of the 
cause and principles We advocate. 

2. Resolved, That while we adopt the name Native American, in accordance 
with the decision of the late National Convention, we do not intend thereby to 
exclude adopted citizens from our party; on the contrary, we earnestly invite 
all who are truly American in feeling and interest, without regard to the land 
of their birth, to join our standard, and share with us the glory and honor of 
upholding American principles and American institutions, against all opposition, 

3. Resolved, That we heartily approve of the doings, and cordially embrace 
the principles, generally, set forth in the Address and Resolves of the late Na- 
tional Convention of the Native American Party; and we do hereby adopt the 
same as our political creed; and do now avow our unalterable determination to 
maintain and support the doctrines therein contained, to their full and triumph- 
ant establishment. 



16 PREAMBLE & RESOLUTIONS. 

4. Resolved, That from this time forth, we will not give our suffrages to 
any man, for any office, either under the State or National Government, who 
willjnot pledge himself, if elected, to exert his best efforts to effect the repeal 
of the existing naturalization laws. 

5. Resolved, That while we detest and abhor the party sycophant, who to 
conciliate foreign influence, and thus foist himself into office, would sell his 
birthright in this land of liberty, we will hail with fraternal regard, and wel- 
come to our warm embrace that man in whose bosom there throbs a true Ame- 
rican heart, notwithstanding a foreign land may claim his nativity. 

6. Resolved, That we deprecate as a blighting curse to the community, the 
hordes of ignorant serfs, mendicants and criminals that daily throng our shores, 
since they do but undermine the honest industry of the country, prey upon our 
substance, and corrupt the public morals. 

7. Resolved, That as a measure purely of self-defence, we will advocate 
the passage of a law imposing upon all foreigners coming to the United States 
to reside, a capitation tax, of such magnitude as effectually to arrest and pre- 
vent, for all time to come, the influx of the ignorant, vicious and pauper popu- 
lation of Europe. 

8. Resolved, That inasmuch as absolute and entire freedom of opinion, in 
matters of religion, is at the very foundation of American liberty — while we, 
as a political party, disclaim all partiality for, or prejudice against, any reli- 
gious institution — we will promptly oppose with open hostility, any and all re- 
ligious sects, that shall in any manner, or for any purpose, interfere with the 
political institutions of our country. 

9. Resolved, That inasmuch as our country contains all the elements ne- 
cessary to make us an independent, contented and happy people, we will there* 
fore foster, encourage and support American Industry, American Science and 
American Art against the world- 

10. Resolved, That we earnestly call upon the friends of our cause through- 
out Kentucky, to arouse to immediate action, by organizing Native American 
associations in every county and precinct in the State, and we conjure them, 
by their love of country, not to lay down [their arms until the star of Ameri- 
can Independence shall again assume its native lustre. 

On motion of Mr. Beattie, the following Resolution was adopted: 

Resolved, That the proceedings of this meeting, signed by all its of- 
ficers, be published in the Morning Courier and American Democrat, 
and that all Editors friendly to our cause in Kentucky, and the adjacent 
States, be and they hereby are, requested to publish the same. 

And then the meeting adjourned. 

L. L. SHREVE, President. 



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